White Sox: Hot and Not, Players to Watch For 2018 Season
Despite the possibility of another losing season for White Sox in 2018, there will be plenty of players fans should watch closely next year.
As a Chicago White Sox fan in the midst of a rebuild, there’s nothing like sitting on the couch with a beer and shooting opinions from the hip. Okay, I’m not sitting on a couch and don’t have a beer – but I’m overcoming the gap by over-compensating with opinions.
You all know about Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, etc. and the host of heralded young players the White Sox have in tow. Are there other gems in the midst not yet on anyone’s radar? Let’s talk about five players that could give more than we might expect and five others not so much.
More from White Sox News
- The Chicago White Sox might have had a season ending loss
- The Chicago White Sox are expecting Tim Anderson back soon
- Miguel Cairo’s words spark life into the Chicago White Sox
- Dylan Cease should be the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award
- Ozzie Guillen speaks the whole truth about Tony La Russa
Upside Paths:
You know him. He’s the guy who tore it up after being called up on Aug. 1, this after tearing up the Grapefruit league in spring training. Last season’s history-setting call-up saw him reach base safely in 21 of his first 22 games in the majors (are you kidding me?), hit nine homers with a pair of two-homer games even after returning from a wrist injury, and delivered an OPS of .856.
This kid has lightning in his bat and will be getting his first chance to show what he can do over a full season in 2018. All the talk about needing a left-handed power bat? 400-plus at-bats, meet Delmonico.
They guy has been solid since bring drafted by the Sox in 2013. The team needs bullpen talent, and this guy brings 99-mph heat. Yes, 99. He’s just 27 but may be ready to pop and make the team out of spring training as a needed bullpen contributor in 2018. With all the talk of needing a closer, remember that you heard it here that it would not surprise me if Goldberg emerged as the guy.
He seems to be flying under the radar due to Gioloto, Lopez and Kopech assuming the roles of organizational poster children for the rebuild. He matured in 2017 to the point of beating Corey Kluber in each pitcher’s final start of the season. Look for Fulmer as a fourth or fifth starter in the rotation who beats up on other team’s foirth and fifth starters because he’s good, feisty, and better than back-end rotation talent. Personality wise, he’s A.J. Pierzinski on the mound.
For much of the first-half of 2017, Davidson was the team’s most productive power hitter. Like Delmonico, when he is on and healthy he can be downright dominating. With third base unencumbered and opportunities to spend time spelling Abreu and getting at-bats at designated hitter, I look for increased performance from Davidson assuming he stays healthy in Frazier’s absence.
I list Tilson last due to low expectations unrelated to any negative reason, but because we just haven’t seen much of him. He might be the brittle resource who’s been out of sight since the terrible hamstring injury. Or maybe just maybe, we’ll see a healthy and hungry hustler who demonstrates signs of his potential. That would be very interesting and definitely something to watch.
Other paths:
It troubles me to write this because I like the guy a lot, but either he was hampered by injury all last year or he regressed. His lack of productivity left the window of opportunity open for Yolmer Sanchez. I don’t understand at this point why he would still be on the roster, save for depth in the instance Sanchez is dealt to leverage his marketability.
I felt like I saw Saladino lose confidence due to the down year to the degree he shaved the moustache! Maybe a new year brings back that back along with performance buoyed by the fresh start. My hunch is limited upside here which means he’ll end up in Charlotte or somewhere else.
See John Danks in 2016. A very likable guy who has the opportunity to mentor to the youngsters, but why in the world would the team give innings to him over Giolito, Lopez, Hansen or even Danish? Because the Sox have to either pay him to play or sit. The further through the season the team gets next year, the more likely the Sox will cut bait on ‘Big Game James’ or move him for anything they can get.